Four decades of a bestseller: the history of the Volkswagen Golf

As you may have read in the first note of the day yesterday the official launch of the Golf 7 was made in Uruguay. Being the most anticipated signing the last ten years back we can not let it go just like that so review your story that takes 40 years on the books of Wolfsburg.

In 2014 marks 40 years of the model that came to replace the old Beetle and has since made a reference to its segment. The Volkswagen Golf's birthday and as a tribute today we review seven generations after the jump.

As successor to the legendary Beetle of which more than 21.5 million units were produced the Golf I designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro and Volkswagen Design had to meet the huge expectations that entailed continuing the success story of hitherto was the most popular vehicle in the world.

And it worked so much so that in October 1976 two years after its presentation to the world and the production of one millionth held. Today we celebrate the 40 years since its launch and review your story in detail.

Golf MkI (1974-1983)

The first mass produced Golf left the assembly line in Wolfsburg on March 29 1974. For decades the Beetle and he mounted behind the engine and rear-wheel drive had dominated the scene but had just emerged a new was the front engine and front wheel drive transverse mounted. In turn this first generation belonged to segment B.

With the launch of the first Golf GTI in 1976 Volkswagen championed the introduction of greater dynamism in this segment while the Golf D (with naturally aspirated diesel engine in 1976) and the Golf GTD (turbodiesel 1982) marked the advancement of diesel cars in the compact segment. With the Golf Cabrio released in 1979 Volkswagen launched a convertible vehicle for several years was the best selling in the world in its class.

Golf MkII (1983-1992)

In August 1983 passengers no longer had to sit so close to each other as space utilization was improved. It was the second generation Golf which introduced the regulated catalyst (1984) ABS (1986) and power steering in its segment besides being the first who could ask for choice with system driving all four wheels called Syncro in 1986.

Golf MkIII (1993-2001)

With the launch of the third generation Golf in August 1993 Volkswagen led a new era in safety. The Golf III was the first in the range to have front airbags from 1992 while great progress in building body resulted in a significantly better safety in case of accident. This generation also meant the final leap of Golf to segment C.

In addition numerous other technological milestones model are linked to third Golf which debuted characteristics as the first six-cylinder engine (VR6) cruise control speed diesel oxidation catalyst (1991) and the first diesel engines direct injection (TDI 1993). Also the ABS became standard on all models Golf in 1996. In 1993 Volkswagen had also introduced a new convertible based on the Golf III a new model with four-wheel drive (Syncro II) and the first Golf Variant (familiar).

Golf MkIV (1997-2004)

Under the direction of Hartmut Warkuss the then Director of Design for the Volkswagen Group the Golf IV was one of the first products of the brand in which debut ESC stability control (in 1998). Also in that year Volkswagen unveiled the first Golf with AWD and Haldex: Golf 4MOTION.

A year later the ESC became standard equipment for all European range. The first engine with direct injection (FSI) and the debut of curtain airbag became standard in 2002. That same year Volkswagen launched the R32 with a top speed of 250 km / h a higher model within the range that 2003 was the first to incorporate the famed gearbox gearbox (DSG). This generation was the last we saw in Uruguay until the arrival of Golf 7.

Golf MkV (2005-2007)

This Golf launched in 2004 and we did not see in Uruguay had innovative features such as laser welded body which increased 35% in torsional stiffness compared to Golf IV. We are facing a completely new product and you could say that this generation to the above only the name was retained.

In terms of comfort and performance the Golf V excelled in many areas such as its new multilink rear suspension the seven-speed DSG the bi-xenon headlamps and the first TSI supercharged engine in 2006 combining turbo and a compressor. In 2006 he debuted on Golf Plus and in 2007 made a new family Variant.

Golf MkVI (2008-2012)

In just four years from 2008 until the end of July 2012 there were 2.85 million vehicles based on its sixth Golf generation. Again security made great progress: the body passed the EuroNCAP tests achieving maximum score of five stars. This product like the Golf V officially came to Uruguay although like this in our streets circulate some imported privately even MkVI GTi.

At the same time appeared new TSI engine and a transition turbodiesel engine (TDI) and with common rail system. The technological innovation of the era saw in the Golf shaped elements of the new assistance systems -the automatic management of lights Light Assist or Park Assist.

Golf MKVII (2012-)

On September 4 2012 Volkswagen celebrated the world premiere of the seventh generation Golf. His weight was reduced by up to 100 kg reversing the global trend of weight gain. The fuel consumption was improved by up to 23%. The new Golf BlueMotion TDI consumes just 3.2 l / 100 km (equivalent to 85 g / km CO2).

In addition Volkswagen has equipped the Golf with even more advanced systems for driver assistance than the previous generation as the anti-collision manifold the Pre-Crash Lane Assist system or XDS Series system.

In 2014 Volkswagen electrifies the compact segment with the Golf: the new fully electric e-Golf with a range of 190 kilometers. Moreover the new Golf GTE was released in Europe on a plug-in hybrid propulsion system that achieves a combined consumption of 1.5 l / 100 km and in purely electric mode can travel up to 50 km.